1 . A wolf in the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, Northwest China’s Qinghai Province, has gained weight as a result of regular feeding by visitors in vehicles, according to a video recorded by a netizen. The fat wolf swings its tail at passing vehicles and even rolls on its back to appeal for food in the video. The video rapidly spread, causing an Internet debate.
In July this year, a woman shared a video of her encounter with a wolf while traveling through HohXil. She got out of her car to give the hungry wolf some beef jerky, noting how thin the animal seemed. She expressed her sympathy for it and did not hesitate to feed it. In other videos posted by netizens, the wolf can be seen wandering near cars on the roadside, and even lying in front of one of them. The new video claims the wolf in Hoh Xil has been fed by humans for a long time.
It caused a heated discussion among netizens, with some finding the wolf very cute and funny, and joking that it no longer wanted to work hard. But others expressed concern that such feeding would disrupt the natural order, and have a negative impact on the wolf and its ecosystem.
Dai Qiang, a researcher at the Chengdu Institute of Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who has been studying wild animals such as pandas and wolves for a long time, disagrees with the practice of feeding wild wolves. He believes that such behavior, may also cause the animals to become dependent, and have adverse(不利的)results. Dai says that such behavior may cause risks to both human beings and wild animals.
“Wild animals, especially injured ones, may carry bacteria. Wolves are fierce animals after all, and it is hard to know whether they are aggressive(进攻性的)or not, so it is better to keep a safe distance,” says Dai. “On the other hand, unless the species is endangered, artificial intervention(人为干预)is not recommended,” he adds.
1. What can we say about the wolf in Hoh Xil?| A．It turned to a woman for help. | B．It has been given food by people. |
| C．It wandered regularly near visitors. | D．It lost weight in the nature reserve. |
| A．Protect. | B．Maintain. | C．Upset. | D．Adjust. |
| A．They may hurt people. | B．They may gain weight. |
| C．They may leave reserves. | D．They may become extinct. |
| A．To inform people of wolves’ habits. | B．To call on people to protect wolves. |
| C．To entertain readers with a wolf story. | D．To warn people of risks in feeding wolves. |
2 . Have you heard of shark fin (鲨鱼鳍) soup? This famous and expensive dish is especially popular in southern China. But do you realize that you are killing a whole shark each time you enjoy a bowl of shark fin soup?
When people catch sharks, they cut off their fins and throw them back into the sea where they die slowly and painfully. In fact, around 70 million sharks are caught and traded (交易) in this industry every year. The numbers of some kinds of sharks have declined by over 90 percent in the last 20 to 30 years.
Environmental protection groups around the world, such as WildAid and the WWF, are teaching the public about “finning”. They have even asked governments to develop laws to stop the sale of shark fins. So far, no scientific studies have shown shark fins are good for health, so why eat them? Help save the sharks!
1. Where is shark fin soup especially popular?| A．In eastern China. | B．In southern China. | C．In western China. | D．In northern China. |
| A．Fallen. | B．Added. | C．Doubled. | D．Increased. |
| A．They are afraid of sharks. |
| B．They catch sharks for fun. |
| C．They consider sharks lovely. |
| D．They cut off shark fins for money. |
| A．WTO. | B．UNESCO. | C．WildAid. | D．WHO. |
| A．Respect Nature | B．Value the Planet | C．Save the Sharks | D．Keep Balance |
3 . Long ago, Mexican wolves were common all through the Southwestern US and Northern Mexico. But as more human activities appeared in the areas, the wolves were hunted until they almost died out. The Mexican wolf is the rarest kind of gray wolf in North America. In the1970s, the US government began a program of raising Mexican wolves and releasing (放出) them back into nature. The program hoped to make the wolves spread back across the area they had once lived in for they are an important part of the balance of nature in the area.
The result of the latest count of Mexican wolves was reported by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). A total of 42 wolf packs were found in the wild, and half of them had baby wolves last spring. Around 90 baby wolves were born in all, and 58% of them survived. The count reported a total of 163 wolves, which is nearly 25% more than last year. Over the last 10 years, the number of wolves has been increasing by about 15% a year.
One change wildlife managers have made recently is placing little wolves into groups of wild wolves. The wolves that are returned to nature when they are young seem to be far more adaptable than wolves that go into the wild for the first time as adults. Besides, new wolves from outside the packs also improve the overall long-term health of the wolves as a group.
However, not everyone is excited about the news. For farmers, who must protect their cattle from wolves, the increase is likely to mean more lost animals on their farms. Last year, 184 farm animals were killed in all. That’s the largest number since 1998.
Now, the USFWS and others are studying the increase in cattle killings, and trying to figure out solutions to protecting both Mexican wolves and farm animals. Bryan Bird, speaking for a group called Defenders of Wildlife, says, “Ensuring that wolves and people can get along is a necessary part of long-term success.”
1. What is the aim of the US program?| A．To call on people to fight against hunting. |
| B．To reduce the natural areas for human activities. |
| C．To make sure the Mexican wolf population recovers. |
| D．To improve the living conditions of Mexican wolves. |
| A．The US program has achieved great success. |
| B．The baby wolves have faced some difficulties. |
| C．The number of wolves has been out of control. |
| D．The Mexican wolves have trouble fitting into the wild. |
| A．Most young wolves are healthier than adult wolves. |
| B．Wildlife managers should take measures to manage wolves. |
| C．Releasing wolves in the wild causes some environmental problems. |
| D．Mixing human-raised baby wolves with wild wolves benefits them all. |
| A．Wild Mexican wolves are short of food. |
| B．Farmers suffer losses due to increasing wolves. |
| C．Farmers fail to know how to drive away wild wolves. |
| D．Wild Mexican wolves are still in danger of dying out. |
4 . In late January, returning home from a day in town, my husband and I were greeted by a couple of Willie Wagtails sitting on a hanging basket on our balcony, probably planning to build a nest. Another day away, we came home to find a simple
The next day an egg
Two weeks passed and three baby chicks were hatched (孵出). The
We were constantly
| A．fence | B．door | C．picture | D．construction |
| A．decorate | B．keep | C．move | D．hang |
| A．wore out | B．fell down | C．went ahead | D．gave out |
| A．various | B．rare | C．second-hand | D．man-made |
| A．broke | B．appeared | C．caught | D．rolled |
| A．outline | B．routine | C．nest | D．reserve |
| A．meaningless | B．luckless | C．doubtless | D．tireless |
| A．water | B．food | C．grass | D．clothes |
| A．strangely | B．quickly | C．painfully | D．curiously |
| A．protected | B．confused | C．attracted | D．scolded |
| A．chance | B．solution | C．warning | D．greeting |
| A．looked for | B．looked into | C．got on | D．took on |
| A．insects | B．heads | C．wings | D．tails |
| A．beating | B．hitting | C．striking | D．sinking |
| A．full | B．popular | C．careful | D．peaceful |
5 . Over 7,000 species around the world are considered endangered. That number doesn’t even include the plants, animals, and other lifeforms that are listed by some scientists as vulnerable, critically endangered, or extinct in the wild.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains the most-comprehensive list of endangered species around the world. The Red List of Threatened Species, as it’s called, judges each species on five different standards for an in-depth scientific approach. According to the IUCN, an endangered species is one that meets any one of the following criteria (标准): a 50%-70% population decrease over 10 years, a total geographic area less than 5,000 square kilometers, a population size less than 2,500 adults, a restricted population of 250 adults, or a statistical prediction that it will go extinct within the next 20 years.
Though the IUCN’s Red List covers a wide range of what qualifies as an endangered species, it doesn’t quite say how a species reaches those low points. Prepare to feel guilty: the most common factor when it comes to species decline is human intervention. Loss of habitat, the introduction of a foreign species into the environment, hunting, pollution, disease, and loss of genetic variation (基因变异) are all causes of species decline and most often are a result of human activities. Take the bald eagle for example: the rise in human population and urban development of North America limited the animal’s habitat; an increase in hunting the eagles for sport lowered their population size; and the use of the pesticide DDT on farms harmed the animal’s reproductive capabilities.
But even though humans are the number one cause of species decline, classifying species as endangered encourages action to reverse the effects of human intervention. Conservation efforts by the US Fish and Wildlife Service criminalized (使非法) the hunting of bald eagles and the use of the pesticide DDT in the mid- to late 20th century. The effect was positive, as bald eagles have been on the rise and were taken off the endangered species list in 1995.
1. Which of the following species can be considered endangered?| A．One that will go extinct within the next 50 years. |
| B．One whose population size is less than 5,000 adults. |
| C．One whose habitat is less than 2,500 square kilometers. |
| D．One whose population decreases 20% over twenty years. |
| A．The causes of species decline. |
| B．The disadvantages of the pesticide. |
| C．A list of worldwide endangered species. |
| D．Common features of endangered species. |
| A．To show its rareness. |
| B．To blame humans for its decline. |
| C．To stress its importance in nature. |
| D．To show the meaning of ranking it endangered. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Health. | C．Science. | D．Education. |
6 . It was his final climb to reach the highest summit on all seven continents. When Christopher Kulish finally reached Mount Everest’s 29,035-foot peak, he joined a group known as the “Seven Summits Club”. But the 62-year-old Colorado lawyer died suddenly Monday after returning to the first camp below the mountain’s summit. He’s the second American to die in the past week after reaching Everest’s highest point. His family believes the cause was a heart attack.
Last week, 55-year-old Donald Cash died just after reaching the Everest peak. He also had reached the highest point on all seven continents. Including Christopher and Cash, at least 11 people have died on Mount Everest this year.
The deaths come among reports of overcrowding on the popular mountain. The Nepali government granted a total of 381 permits to climb Everest this year, a number that doesn’t include guides who are on the mountain as well. For some climbers, that traffic has meant longer wait time—some told the Himalayan Times the wait has exceeded two hours between the last camp and the peak. “When there’s a crowd, being a more experienced climber won’t help you,” Mountaineer O’Brien, who has also climbed the seven summits, said. “When a climber is stuck in that traffic, their body is starting to deteriorate (恶化) and the descent is often harder than the climb.”
“There’s no simple explanation for the string of deaths,” climbing expert Alan Arnette said. “Weather is one factor causing overcrowding. Meanwhile, the cost to climb Mount Everest has decreased, which means more people are making the journey.”
Still, Christopher was no beginner. His family said he’d been mountain climbing for five decades. He arrived at the base camp nearly two months before his climb so he could give himself time to adapt to the conditions.
His brother, Mark Kulish, described being a lawyer as a “day job” for Christopher. Climbing was his passion.
1. What made longer wait time on Mount Everest?| A．Lacking guides. | B．Overcrowding. |
| C．Bad weather. | D．Getting Government’s permission. |
| A．To wait for his friends. | B．To learn about the mountain. |
| C．To clear the traffic jam. | D．To adapt to conditions earlier. |
| A．He joined the “Seven Summits Club” at the base camp. |
| B．He has reached the highest point on all seven continents. |
| C．He died from a heart attack below the Mount Everest’s peak. |
| D．11 people following him died after reaching the Everest peak this year. |
7 . When Kurt Benirschke started collecting skin samples from endangered animals in 1972, he didn’t have a firm plan on what to do with them. As a researcher at the University of California San Diego, he believed that one day these samples would be used to save these animals. A few years later, he moved his collection to the San Diego Zoo, and called it the Frozen Zoo.
For a long time, it was the only project of its kind; however, in recent years, similar conservation efforts have spread globally, and tools that Benirschke didn’t yet have are now available. Today, the Frozen Zoo is the world’s largest animal cryobank(生物冷冻库), holding samples from over 10,500 individual animals from 1,220 species, in the hope that one day science can bring them back as a species.
The Frozen Zoo’s advanced technology is the key to its success in saving species from extinction. By using cryopreservation techniques, the zoo can store cells and tissues from endangered animals. The stored genetic material can be used for research, breeding(繁殖) programs, and potentially even cloning or genetic engineering to restore endangered species.
By protecting the genetic heritage of endangered animals, the Frozen Zoo provides hope for the survival of species that would otherwise be at risk of dying out, and the preservation of Earth’s precious biodiversity. It has inspired the establishment of similar cryobanks worldwide, expanding efforts to conserve endangered species. These cryobanks contribute to the global network of genetic resources, improving cooperation and knowledge exchange. By demonstrating the potential of technology in the preservation of biodiversity, the frozen zoo serves as a powerful tool in raising awareness and driving change.
The Frozen Zoo is like a time capsule, preserving the genetic heritage of endangered species for future generations. It reminds us about the importance of conservation and offers a window into a world that could otherwise be lost forever.
1. What do we know about the Frozen Zoo?| A．It is the world’s oldest and largest animal cryobank. |
| B．It started with a detailed plan led by Kurt Benirschke. |
| C．It is a project to explore the evolution of animal species. |
| D．It was established to protect animals in the San Diego Zoo. |
| A．By expanding their natural habitats. |
| B．By raising their survival rate with genetic technology. |
| C．By preserving their genetic material for further research. |
| D．By innovating breeding techniques to increase their population. |
| A．To stress the importance of the Frozen Zoo. |
| B．To explain the urgency of saving endangered species. |
| C．To prove the potential value of preserving biodiversity. |
| D．To show the necessity of cooperative conservation efforts. |
| A．Costly and controversial. | B．Profitable and instructive. |
| C．Conservative and effective. | D．Pioneering and significant. |
8 . Flood (洪水) Safety Guidelines (指南)
Flood (洪水) is one of the most dangerous natural disasters. It may come suddenly and sweep away (冲走) everything. It is important to learn some safety guidelines and get prepared for a flood, especially for those living near a river.
Things to do before a flood
●Move to a safe place immediately if there is an order. Prepare enough food and clean water.
Remember to prepare a first aid kit (急救箱).
Try to move to a place high enough to keep clear of floodwater. Hold to a tree or a woodblock if you are in water. Keep away from electricity.
Things not to do during a flood
Do not take too many personal things with you.
Although flood is dangerous,
| A．never give up hope |
| B．Things to do during a flood |
| C．Here are some tips on flood safety |
| D．Do not drink floodwater because it is not clean |
| E．Listen to the weather warnings (警告) firstly |
9 . Endangered polar bears are breeding (繁殖) with grizzly bears (灰熊), creating “pizzly” bears, which is being driven by climate change, scientists say.
As the world warms and Arctic sea ice thins, starving polar bears are being forced ever further south, where they meet grizzlies, whose ranges are expanding northwards. And with that growing contact between the two come increasing hybrids (杂交种).
With characteristics that could give the hybrids an advantage in warming northern habitats, some scientists guess that they could be here to stay. “Usually, hybrids aren’t better suited to their environments than their parents, but these hybrids are able to search for a broader range of food sources,” Larisa DeSantis, an associate professor of biological sciences at Vanderbilt University, told Live Science.
The rise of “pizzly” bears appears with polar bears’ decline: their numbers are estimated to decrease by more than 30% in the next 30 years. This sudden fall is linked partly to “pizzly” bears taking up polar bears’ ranges, where they outcompete them, but also to polar bears’ highly specialized diets.
“Polar bears mainly consumed soft foods even during the Medieval Warm Period, a previous period of rapid warming,” DeSantis said, referring to fat meals such as seals. “Although all of these starving polar bears are trying to find alternative food sources, like seabird eggs, it could be a tipping point for their survival.” Actually, the calories they gain from these sources do not balance out those they burn from searching for them. This could result in a habitat ready for the hybrids to move in and take over, leading to a loss in biodiversity if polar bears are replaced.
“We’re having massive impacts with climate change on species,” DeSantis said. “The polar bear is telling us how bad things are. In some sense, “pizzly” bears could be a sad but necessary compromise given current warming trends.”
1. Why do polar bears move further south?| A．To create hybrids. | B．To expand territory. |
| C．To relieve hunger. | D．To contact grizzlies. |
| A．Broader habitats. | B．More food options. |
| C．Climate preference. | D．Improved breeding ability. |
| A．A rare chance. | B．A critical stage. |
| C．A positive factor. | D．A constant change. |
| A．Polar bears are changing diets for climate change. |
| B．Polar bears have already adjusted to climate change. |
| C．“Pizzly” bears are on the rise because of global warming. |
| D．“Pizzly”bears have replaced polar bears for global warming. |
Once upon a time, in a land far away, there was a small village. The village was located in the heart of a big jungle(丛林). Surrounded by the high mountains and in the shade of green trees, the villagers happily lived a life of happiness.
All of them were used to their robotic daily tasks and none of them had the imagination or the will to try something new, except for one girl named Hannah. Very few people in the village could read, let alone write, and Hannah was one of them. Her parents had made sure that their only child got everything possible.
Hannah was an adventurous spirit with an imagination far beyond her time. She loved to explore and would spend hours in the woods looking for new things. She loved to create stories in her head and used to imagine herself as one of her characters. Sometimes, she even told stories to her friends, adding her own touch of curiosity every now and then to different stories, making them more interesting. She wanted to inspire the sparks of curiosity and imagination in them.
One afternoon, when Hannah was on one of her adventurous searches, she came upon an abandoned cottage(遗弃的小屋). The cottage looked very old in its condition. The door was hardly hanging and the wood was about to break apart into pieces. Even though Hannah’s mother had strictly warned her not to go wandering in abandoned places, her curiosity drove her to approach it.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。
Opening the door, she was left shocked by a room full of books!
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To her disappointment, her friends showed no interest in the tales she told.
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